Ministry of Health officials are investigating two suspected measles cases – one in Phnom Penh and another in Svay Rieng province.

Ministry spokesman Ly Sovann yesterday referred questions to an official at the national program, who declined to give his name, citing the ongoing investigation, but said teams were dispatched on Saturday to investigate the suspected cases and collect blood samples.

The two cases involve an 8-month-old in Phnom Penh’s Por Sen Chey district and a 1-year-old in Svay Rieng province, he said. “Any suspected cases should be investigated,” he said. “Right now it’s not clear yet.”

Officials are still awaiting the lab results.

In March 2015, the World Health Organization declared Cambodia “measles free”. Just 10 months later, in January of this year, a case emerged involving a 7-month-old infant in Kampong Speu province.

Another case was subsequently confirmed that same month, according to ministry documents, while a third was uncovered in May.

It’s unknown where the other two confirmed cases this year took place.

Additional reporting by Bun Sengkong